Of all the big cat species in the world, most people know the least about snow leopards. They are some of the most elusive cats, often referred to as “ghosts of the mountain”, and it is rare to encounter them in the wild.

These beautiful creatures are found high up in the mountains in Asia, where they live amongst the bitter cold and snow. While we are still learning about snow leopards, there are some really interesting facts that we do know.

They have furry bellies

Snow Leopards have fur along their stomachs that is nearly 5 inches thick! This helps keep them nice and warm in their icy-cold habitats.

Snow Leopards prey on huge animals

The cats prey on animals that are almost 3 times their weight. Talk about big appetites!

They are territorial loners

Snow Leopards spend most of their lives in solitude. A study completed in 2014 showed that male snow leopards have a home range of more than 200 square kilometres, that’s roughly the size of Aruba! In addition to that, their ranges rarely overlap with members of the same sex, as they are some of the most territorial cats in the world.

They aren’t afraid of heights

Snow Leopards live at the highest altitudes of any other large cat. At heights of over 5,859 metres above sea level!

They aren’t yet endangered, but they are vulnerable

Snow Leopards are estimated to have populations of between 3,500 and 7,000, but getting exact numbers is difficult. They have not been added to the endangered list as of yet, but if illegal poaching continues, they will be well on their way. With changes to climate and habitats, this also is impacting their numbers.

At SEEtheWILD, we want to connect you with tour operators that are working towards furthering conservation efforts and bringing awareness to the declining numbers of snow leopards. Partners like Legends of the Wild and Mountain Travel Sobek take this role seriously and have taken the KEEPitWILD Pledge to keep wildlife wild.

Find out more about the KEEPitWILD Pledge here.

Learn more about the Snow Leopard trips our partners offer below:

Snow Leopard Camera Trapping – Legends of the Wild

Quest for the Snow Leopards – Mountain Travel Sobek